Project 2-1-1 and Big Science

Author: Liu Ji Feng, Liu Yan Qiong
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-12-01
Features: Since the devastation of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, no country has faced such close nuclear threats as China. The United States, the Soviet Union, and their allies have all issued nuclear warnings to the suffering Chinese nation. The mushroom cloud from the Lop Nur nuclear explosion is a thrilling wave in the long history of modern China, it forged the unity and pride of the Chinese nation since the Opium War 150 years ago, it brought peace to China for 50 years, and it also ignited the hope for the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. Moreover, the success of the "Two Bombs, One Satellite" project far exceeded the success of the weapons themselves in terms of the evolution of the world political landscape and the development of the world peace process. This book takes China's "Two Bombs, One Satellite" project as a case study, thoroughly examining its decision-making, implementation, and operation processes, carefully analyzing the history of the "Two Bombs, One Satellite" project, its domestic and international impacts, as well as its lessons and insights. It places China's "Two Bombs, One Satellite" in the context of the international development of large-scale science and conducts comparative research, drawing some conclusions with both theoretical and practical significance. This book is a specialized work in China that starts with case studies to research large-scale scientific issues, suitable for science and technology managers, strategic researchers, and young university students.
Excerpt: The mushroom cloud of the nuclear explosion is a thrilling wave in the long history of modern China. On November 5, 1960, China successfully launched its first domestically produced short-range ballistic missile; on June 29, 1964, China's independently designed intermediate-range missile was successfully tested; on October 16, 1964, the tower test of the nuclear device was successful; on October 27, 1966, the flight test of the ground-based ballistic missile equipped with a nuclear warhead was successful; on June 17, 1967, the airburst test of the hydrogen bomb was successful; and on April 24, 1970, China successfully launched its first artificial satellite. These are unforgettable years in the historical gallery of the People's Republic of China, a miracle created by the Chinese people on their journey to the pinnacle of modern science and technology, and a brilliant chapter and qualitative leap in the modernization drive of the new China. In the early 1980s, China this human marvel as "Two Bombs, One Satellite." On September 18, 1999, the Party Central Committee, the State Council, and the Central Military Commission held a grand ceremony in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing to award honors to science and technology experts who made outstanding contributions to the development of "Two Bombs, One Satellite." At the meeting, Jiang Zemin comprehensively summarized the successful experience of "Two Bombs, One Satellite," eloquently elaborated the great spirit of "Two Bombs, One Satellite," highly praised the outstanding achievements of "Two Bombs, One Satellite," and called on the entire Party, the entire army, and the entire nation to learn from the meritorious science and technology experts, vigorously promote the spirit of "Two Bombs, One Satellite," and comprehensively advance the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics into the 21st century. It is clear that "Two Bombs, One Satellite" is a symbol of the great achievements of the new China, a source of pride for the Chinese nation, and a monument that stands tall for the People's Republic of China in the East. Reviewing the historical process of the research and development of "Two Bombs, One Satellite" is of great theoretical and practical significance for us to correctly understand the development of large-scale science in China and correctly understand the value and role of technological innovation.